Krause Publications' "NumisMaster" service
kranky
Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
I spoke at length to a couple Krause reps at the ANA show about this service, so I thought I would share what I learned.
At the basic level, it's an online subscription to the information in Krause's coin and currency databases (all those fat catalogs they print). You buy only what you need, and can select by century/geography/metal, etc. So you could subscribe only to Polish gold coins from the 1800's if you wanted. You can filter on all fields (and there are many for each coin). It's designed for both collectors and dealers and includes statistical data as well as pricing information which is "updated daily". You can report an apparent pricing error by clicking on a button. You can track your own collection/inventory including cost data, storage location, inventory number, etc. It's being designed by a long-time collector so they believe it will address all the needs you might have.
They pointed out that you will be able to export the data you have in a variety of formats (XLS, PDF, CSV, HTML, XML) so your data won't be trapped if you choose to discontinue the service. They also stressed the security features which they compared to "Fortune 500 level security".
Some content will be available free to registered users and they have not yet finalized pricing. Also, more features will be rolled out as they are ready.
I shared some thoughts that I had and they were quite interested in feedback. I told them to include auction records (as Krause no longer publishes Auction Prices Realized), make sure that the pricing is not being controlled by dealers, and make sure that privacy concerns are adequately addressed.
They were offering free trials during the beta phase for those who filled out coupons at the ANA.
At the basic level, it's an online subscription to the information in Krause's coin and currency databases (all those fat catalogs they print). You buy only what you need, and can select by century/geography/metal, etc. So you could subscribe only to Polish gold coins from the 1800's if you wanted. You can filter on all fields (and there are many for each coin). It's designed for both collectors and dealers and includes statistical data as well as pricing information which is "updated daily". You can report an apparent pricing error by clicking on a button. You can track your own collection/inventory including cost data, storage location, inventory number, etc. It's being designed by a long-time collector so they believe it will address all the needs you might have.
They pointed out that you will be able to export the data you have in a variety of formats (XLS, PDF, CSV, HTML, XML) so your data won't be trapped if you choose to discontinue the service. They also stressed the security features which they compared to "Fortune 500 level security".
Some content will be available free to registered users and they have not yet finalized pricing. Also, more features will be rolled out as they are ready.
I shared some thoughts that I had and they were quite interested in feedback. I told them to include auction records (as Krause no longer publishes Auction Prices Realized), make sure that the pricing is not being controlled by dealers, and make sure that privacy concerns are adequately addressed.
They were offering free trials during the beta phase for those who filled out coupons at the ANA.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
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Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
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<< <i>Just as an FYI, the NumisMaster Rep is Chicken approved!!!
<< <i>I kinda like the Krause lady, cutie!
<< <i>Just as an FYI, the NumisMaster Rep is Chicken approved!!!
>>
More women who look like her are needed at coin shows.
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
<< <i>Hmpf ... if it ends up being $10 per month, there will be damned few takers. The annual updated books (20th & 21st centuries) will cost less, and the other centuries are not updated very often. Sounds like Krause has a losing idea there. >>
$10 a month is way too expensive. Maybe this was the only model on which they feel it could be economically viable, if so I doubt this is going to last very long.